Anti-programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors in metastatic gastric cancer

Abstract

Metastatic gastric cancer (GC) with limited therapeutic options has a poor prognosis, and therefore, major therapeutic advances are needed. Comprehensive genomic characterization has improved understanding of GC but a great majority of genomic profiling has not been effectively translated to the clinical benefit yet. The introduction of immunotherapy with anti-programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibody such as pembrolizumab or nivolumab resulted in a rapid paradigm shift in the field of medical oncology and their clinical indication has been expanding in the past few years. Now, the era of immunotherapy in metastatic GC has arrived with recent trial results in survival benefit from anti-PD-L1 antibody. Herein, we review the mechanisms of immunotherapy, clinical trials that have been conducted or are in progress, and the potential for PD-L1 as a predictive biomarker for GC.

Keywords

• Gastric
• Immune checkpoint
• Neoplasms
• Programmed cell death protein 1
• Programmed death ligand 1